People Power

we the people
if we are to survive
must acknowledge
our crimes
 
colonization slavery
marginalization of indigenous people  
economic and educational  disparity
environmental degradation for profit
 
we the people
as individuals and collectively
are
 
increasingly frightened of criticism
increasingly prone to blame
increasingly prone to hate
increasingly self-righteous
increasingly hostile to critical intelligence
increasingly superstitious
 
as americans
we cannot easily
disguise from ourselves
that we committed murder
 
we are not at heart
brutal folk
but rather kindly
 
as americans
we like to think of the world
as a place
of innocent pleasure-seeking
of ourselves
as main purveyors of delight
 
yet we have been somehow
drawn into fantastic crimes
now carrying
a pervading sense of collective guilt
warping the american mind
 
it seems
as prosperity increases
unity diminishes
 
as americans
we are crippled
by illusions  
and superstitions  
struggles for power
and dogma
 
ever vainglorious
and intolerant
these qualities
are now extravagant
even to the point of insanity
 
we are ordinary folk but
if we are to survive
 
we must somehow
become great
 
as americans
we must develop innate interest
in personality
in diversity
in the ideal of personal development
 
as americans
we must exploit the remarkable power
in vividly intuiting our fellows
as unique persons
with special needs
 
as americans
we must develop
the ability
to infuse social policy
with loving-kindness
 
we the people
must nurture
triumphant
rapid progress
of the human spirit
 
if we are to survive
we must sacrifice
our loyalty to fate
to regain the
power of love
 
© 2023 Raibeart Bruis